Blender 2.8 won't let me import reference images
Welcome back to Blender

You import reference images by "adding" an Image, pressing Shift+A and selecting the subcategory "Image"->"Reference".

A "File Browser" window will open where you select the image.
After you selected the image and confirm it, the image will appear in the viewport.
Further settings can be accessed by going in the "Object Data Properties".


By the way, dragging an image into the viewport works as well.
But i don't know where you tried to drag it to.

Happy Blending